An ISA transfer moves your ISA money, or investments, from one provider or ISA type to another while keeping it inside the tax-free wrapper. The one rule that matters most: never take the money out yourself to move it.
How a transfer works
To move an ISA, ask the new provider for an ISA transfer: if you withdraw the money yourself instead, you can't pay that part of your allowance back in. A transfer between cash ISAs should take no more than 15 working days, and other ISA transfers 30 calendar days.- Contact the provider you're moving to and fill in its ISA transfer form.
- If you withdraw the money instead, you can't put that part of your tax-free allowance back in.
- You can move all or part of an ISA at any time, to the same type of ISA or a different one, including money paid in this tax year.
- Transfers between cash ISAs should take no more than 15 working days.
- Other ISA transfers should take no more than 30 calendar days.
- Check your provider's terms first: some charge for a transfer, or restrict it.
The old provider must send the money or investments straight to the new one. If they’re paid to you instead, it counts as a withdrawal and the money leaves the ISA wrapper. Providers don’t have to accept transfers in, so check the new ISA takes them, and for which years’ money.
Which transfers are allowed
| From | To | Allowed? |
|---|---|---|
| Cash, stocks and shares or innovative finance ISA | Any of those three types | Yes (from 6 April 2027, transfers into cash ISAs are restricted: below) |
| Cash, stocks and shares ISA, or cash in an innovative finance ISA | Lifetime ISA | Yes, up to the Lifetime ISA’s £4,000 yearly limit; it can earn the bonus |
| Lifetime ISA | Another Lifetime ISA | Yes, with no charge; the bonus moves too |
| Lifetime ISA | Any other type of ISA | Only as a withdrawal: the charge applies before age 60 |
| Innovative finance ISA investments | Another ISA | Depends on the account’s terms; cash in it can always move |
| Junior ISA | Another Junior ISA | Yes, but not to an adult ISA |
| Child Trust Fund | Junior ISA | Yes |
Transferring a Lifetime ISA to another type of ISA before 60 also costs the charge. For Junior ISAs, see Junior ISAs.
Cash or investments
A stocks and shares ISA can be moved as cash (the investments are sold first) or as the investments themselves, if both providers agree. Moving as cash means you’re out of the market while the money travels; moving the investments avoids that, but the new provider has to be able to hold them.
Charges and timing
Check your current provider’s terms before you ask to move: providers can charge for a transfer, and a fixed rate cash ISA may charge for leaving early, often in lost interest. The time limits for a transfer, and what to do if it’s late, are in the rule above; if you’re unhappy with how a delay is handled, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
From 6 April 2027
Transfers from stocks and shares ISAs and innovative finance ISAs into cash ISAs are restricted. This is to stop the new £12,000 cash ISA limit for under-65s being avoided by paying into a stocks and shares ISA and moving the money across. See the cash ISA limit.
Related guides
- ISAs guide: the ISA types, the allowance and the main choices in one place
- Cash ISA rates: what to compare before moving
- Switching savings accounts: moving ordinary savings
- Withdrawing from a Lifetime ISA: when the charge applies